Greens Senator Scott Ludlam Has Resigned From Parliament

Greens senator Scott Ludlam has announced his resignation from federal parliament. In a statement the WA senator said it was “recently brought to my attention that I hold dual citizenship of Australia and New Zealand. Under Section 44 of the Australian constitution I am therefore ineligible to hold elected office in the federal parliament”.

The announcement means that Ludlam has been ineligible to sit in parliament since he was first elected in 2007.

hey everyone. i'm sorry about this, but it's a thing. i'll really miss it, but there are other ways to make trouble. love and thanks. pic.twitter.com/1QsEgRIEnW

At a press conference this afternoon Ludlam took full responsibility for his “mistake” and added that while he was born in Palmerston in New Zealand he had moved to Australia when he was three years old.

When Ludlam was asked whether this information meant he was “technically never a senator” he replied “that’s correct”.

Ludlam was first elected to the Senate in 2007. In 2013 a controversial re-count of the WA Senate election saw Ludlam win re-election, but the High Court ruled the results were invalid and a new election had to be held.

In 2015 he was appointed Deputy Leader of the Australia Greens and up until today he held the portfolios of communications, international aid and development, defence and veterans affairs, foreign affairs, nuclear and sustainable cities.

The issue will now go to the Court of Disputed Returns who rule on how to decide Ludlam’s replacement. The Greens have stated that they expect the third candidate on their 2016 WA senate ticket, Jordan Steele-John, to be elected.